He talked about how he was involved in developing b. toxin as a treatment for hyperhidrosis. Before that, mostly iontophoresis was used, but also the operation called sympathectomy where you cut or put clips on nerves that are connected to the sweat glands. However, sympathectomies were associated with several serious side effects and risks such as severe compensatory sweating and they are no longer performed in Sweden.

Dr. Carl Swartling has been helping patients with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) for years

Dr. Swartling, or Calle as those who know him say, is a very experienced and knowledgeable physician with great empathy for his patients. He has been involved in training the staff at, among other places, the Sweat Clinic at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm. He has in many ways contributed to research on hyperhidrosis and can be considered a leading when it comes to the treatment of, for example, multifocal hyperhidrosis.

Listening to Calle as he, with passion, talks about his patients and possible treatments is a joy. However, it strikes me after a while that I still today have such a hard time understanding why it is so difficult to raise awareness about sweat problems and to reach out to the general public and healthcare professionals with this information.

Hyperhidrosis awareness

We at Hidroxa often receive emails from people around the world who have just realized that hyperhidrosis or other sweating problems are medical conditions that can be treated. We also get a lot of emails where people write that they are skeptical towards iontophoresis or b.toxin as  treatment methods. They have tested “everything” so why would this work? Finally, we also receive many emails from people who have tested iontophoresis and who are shocked that it actually works. “Why did I not know this 10 years ago?”

It is so difficult to understand that despite the internet and all the knowledge that is there a google search away, the knowledge about sweat problems among the general public, patients and healthcare professionals is still very low.

I guess it’s an element of healthy skepticism and source criticism. We are constantly fed with lots of ads that promise us miracles, that cost the shirt and that do not make anyone happier. When you are a company that sells a machine “that uses electricity and water to get rid of sweating”, it is perhaps not so strange that you quickly become lumped together with TV shop and other dubious information channels.

It is sometimes very frustrating to know that you have knowledge and a form of treatment that can help many, but the information does not reach them or it does reach but appears so unserious and unbelievable that it is dismissed.

This is something that we at Hidroxa work with all the time.

Thank you Calle for being such a great doctor, who cares about your patients. Thank you for everything you have done for hyperhidrosis healthcare. We at Hidroxa continue to struggle with spread knowledge about hyperhidrosis and iontophoresis.

Sandra Eriksson Mirkovic

A licensed physician with years of experience and a special interest in treating hyperhidrosis.

www.hidroxa.com

The post Myths about hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) – Dr. Carl Swartling appeared first on The Hyperhidrosis Blog.

People suffering from hyperhidrosis are constantly looking for new treatment options that could help them reduce sweating and make life a little easier. For decades, people have used tap water iontophoresis to treat hyperhidrosis.

Although the Internet has helped spread information about this method within the hyperhidrosis community, most patients are still unaware of this method.

If over-the-counter antiperspirants and home remedies do not curb the sweating problem, you might turn to medical treatments. With several options to choose from, iontophoresis is a non-invasive, painless, and relatively inexpensive treatment that is suitable for patients to use at home.

You might wonder if iontophoresis is really effective? Considering the effectiveness that customers got using our device and the research that has been done – the simple answer is yes. But before investing your time and money in iontophoresis, you should know how the treatment works, potential side effects, and what results you can expect. So, let’s dig into this.

What is iontophoresis?

Iontophoresis machines are one of the most efficient ways to treat hyperhidrosis. This treatment is suitable for treating hyperhidrosis of the hands, feet, underarms. If the necessary accessory is available, for example, Hidroxa iontophoresis face mask, treatment of craniofacial hyperhidrosis is possible. Please note that treating craniofacial hyperhidrosis with an iontophoresis face mask is still experimental. Nevertheless, we had satisfied customers that say it helps them to manage their sweating. Many patients have achieved great success, but the truth is that it will require some work until satisfactory results are achieved. 

The positive effect of iontophoresis is seen in reducing uncontrollable, excessive sweating since the 1940s. In recent decades, many international studies and case studies have investigated iontophoresis and its positive effect on the treatment of hyperhidrosis. The treatments tend to be very efficient with minimal side effects. The success rate ranges between 80-90% of treated patients while numerous reviews of our happy customers testify the efficiency of this treatment. 

The main advantages of this method are: 

– the reduction of the excessive sweating 

– it is a non-invasive, needle-free, drug-free method 

– the efficiency of iontophoresis treatment for hyperhidrosis generally ranges between 80%-90% of people treated 

– easy to use & clinically proven 

How does iontophoresis work? 

Iontophoresis is often recommended to people who have tried prescription antiperspirants but without success and need more effective treatment. It’s a medical device that delivers a mild electrical current while your affected body part is submerged in the water. Make sure that the water covers the area you wish to treat and no more than that. For example, the palms of the hands.

Before treatment, you will need to turn on the device and place your hands or feet in trays filled with lukewarm water. To treat armpits/face, keep water-soaked sponge pads placed under the armpits or wear a face mask soaked in water. Then a small current passes through the water. Tap water is used as an electrically conductive medium between the electrode and the skin. Accordingly, the use of tap water-soaked sponge pouches is to avoid direct skin contact with the electrodes and thus achieves a greatly homogenous current flow through the skin. The current is conducted in one direction for a certain time, and then vice versa during the same time. 

We don’t known exactly how iontophoresis treatments work, but there are several theories: 

• Electric current and mineral particles in the water work together to thicken the outer layer of the skin, blocking the sweat
• The current can interrupt the normal transmission of the nerve, can disrupt the functioning of your sweat glands 
• It decreases the pH value in the sweat gland, which makes it more acidic and reduces the amount of sweat produced

Iontophoreisis treatment

There are no confirmed hypotheses about how iontophoresis treatment works. What we do know is that this treatment significantly reduces excessive sweating. Usually, you need to perform treatments several times a week (preferably every day). Some of our customers saw the first results after only two weeks.

Once the patient achieves the desired effect, maintenance treatments will occur. At that point, treatments need to be performed less frequently, usually about 1-2 times a week or before important events, such as appointments or a date. In some cases, it can even completely eliminate sweating, and dryness can last up to a month. The treatment works within a relatively short period, but it is very individual and depends on a lot of factors, so you will have to be patient.

What is the difference between the constant current and the pulsed current?

Hidroxa iontophoresis device has a choice of constant (CC) and pulsed current (PC). From our experience, most patients prefer pulsed current over direct because the treatment is more comfortable, although the constant current is generally considered more effective.

So, you’re probably wondering, which should I choose, constant or direct current? It depends. Not all patients will find constant current uncomfortable, but in any case, we recommend using PC at the beginning. If the patient performs iontophoresis and feels discomfort with direct current, switching to pulsed current would make the treatment much more comfortable. This way people can tolerate higher current values. This means that you will not achieve results if you cannot tolerate the current, so PC would be more effective in the long run. If the PC is not effective, then it is usually recommended to switch and try CC as a last resort.

The current strength should be adjusted according to your comfort level. In case you are an adolescent, have sensitive skin, or secondary skin conditions, choose a pulsed current. This setting will provide results with minimal discomfort but might take longer to achieve results. Using a pulsed current is essential when treating excessive sweating of the face.

Collaboration with Oslo University Hospital (Oslo universitetssykehus)

This method to tackle excessive sweating has been used by healthcare professionals in hospitals, clinics, and dermatology departments around the world. Hidroxa supplies many hospitals in the Nordic region with iontophoresis machines. Among them is the University Hospital of Oslo, which encourages its patients to try iontophoresis and see for themselves the effects of iontophoresis.

You can carry out the treatment yourself, in the privacy of your own home, without any medical supervision. The thing is, some people want to see how to perform treatments and whether it works for them before they buy their iontophoresis device.

Our iontophoresis machine has the CE mark and is completely designed for home use. The machines we sell at hidroxa.com are the same devices that use professionals in hospitals, clinics, and dermatology departments. You don’t need a prescription for using iontophoresis. If you buy our #HidroxaSE20 iontophoresis machine, we offer 50 days money-back guarantee. That means you can try iontophoresis at home and if you don’t get satisfactory results, you can easily return it. (See our return policy).

Does it work for everyone?

Nothing works 100% for everyone. In the majority of cases, this treatment is effective with significantly drier hands and/or feet after only 2 weeks. Each treatment lasts approx. 20 to 30 minutes. 

There is no magic wand that will tell you what works for you and how many treatments need to be done for some serious results. Initially, we recommend performing one treatment every day for two-three weeks. After this, when you start feeling the effect, you will need to repeat the sessions as needed weekly/monthly. It needs to be repeated regularly to remain effective.

In the beginning, using an iontophoresis machine can seem to be overwhelming. So, it will require some work and you have to be consistent until you reach your satisfactory level of dryness.

Is iontophoresis safe? What are the potential side effects?

Generally, iontophoresis is a safe procedure, especially when you compare it to other hyperhidrosis treatments, such as anticholinergics or surgery. You will not feel pain from the treatment, but you may experience a mild tingling sensation on the skin during the treatment. Additionally, the electric current is not strong enough to cause any serious damage to your skin or a harmful shock. 

Anti-sweat machines are a proven method for managing hyperhidrosis with minimal side effects. Excessive dryness or mild skin irritation are the most common complaints. 

Some people can also experience: 

• Itching of the treated area shortly after treatment.
• Skin blisters, redness can occur if the intensity of the current was too high or its duration was too long
• You may feel a slight burning sensation if you touch the electrodes
• Feeling of electric shock if you remove your arms or legs from the trays halfway through the treatment
• Moderate skin thickening as a cause of frequent treatments, which means you should do them less often
• If you have eczema, it can make the condition worse. Always being wet from hyperhidrosis could cause eczema, so make sure it is under control before starting iontophoresis

There are no long-term side effects. Proper device operation and following instructions that come with the device are essential to minimize the occurrence of these problems. Before you commence the session, don’t forget to take off all metal jewelry before the treatment. Avoid removing the electrodes or disconnecting the cables until you turn off the device. You should also avoid touching the metal plates that are in the baths, as this may result in a burn.

Is iontophoresis the right treatment for me? Rule out underlying medical conditions

Sometimes, hyperhidrosis occurs due to an underlying medical condition. If it happens for no reason – it is called primary, otherwise, it is secondary hyperhidrosis. If you have a proper treatment for the underlying medical condition, it often helps reduce your sweating. So, before you opt for iontophoresis, always first consult your doctor who will identify any possible underlying medical condition that may be the cause of excessive sweating. 

You should not use iontophoresis if you fall into any of these categories, as this may increase the risk of side effects and complications:

• Women who are pregnant
• If you have a pacemaker or ICD (implanted cardioverter defibrillator)
• Having metallic implant such as a metal-containing IUD (intrauterine device), screws, plates, or wires within the possible current path.
• If you suffer from cardiac conditions or epilepsy
• If the body parts you wish to treat suffer from malign tumors, thrombosis, diabetes, impaired sensitivity, inflammation, uncovered skin defects, fresh wounds, or vascular disorders

The risks of tap water iontophoresis in pregnancy are unknown. However, it is safe if you are breastfeeding. Children under the age of 5 should wait until they get older, but most children tolerate this treatment well. Performing treatments on children under the age of 12 should be supervised. It should be agreed with their doctor that they are suitable for iontophoresis treatment.

How to make iontophoresis more effective?

If you can undergo iontophoresis and notice that you have cuts and scratches on your skin, it helps to apply a thick layer of Vaseline before the treatment. In this case, the damaged skin has lower resistance, due to which the current is higher in this area. This will protect open wounds from irritation and itching during treatment. 

Many patients will experience great results just by using tap water. In case your skin resistance increases in the course of treatment due to the drying skin, we recommend adding a teaspoon of salt. This will regulate the pH level of the water and ensure that the proper milliamperes are achieved. If the resistance of the skin becomes higher after a while, making it impossible to perform a treatment, this is a good thing. It means you have received an effect. Try and wait a few days before performing the next treatment. 

If performing iontophoresis with plain tap water or tap water with added salt does not help you achieve the desired dryness, then you might want to combine prescription medication. You can add anticholinergics such as Robinul and Glycopyrrolate to the water. In most cases, this makes iontophoresis therapy effective. 

Sometimes the skin dryness can occur and if it happens to be cracked or fissured, you can apply a moisturizer after each session. 

Conclusion

Decades of clinical experience and research show a significant reduction of palmar/plantar hyperhidrosis using iontophoresis devices as a safe and effective solution. Iontophoresis is not a permanent solution to your problem, and further maintenance treatments are required. Compared to other potential solutions, this treatment is appropriate and cost-effective that can significantly reduce excessive sweating. Some people think it’s too much of a hassle. But others enjoy the independence of managing therapy and achieving excellent results on their own and whenever they need it. It is up to you to decide.

If you have any questions, please take a look at our FAQ and don’t hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected] or our online chat anytime.

References/Web links to further information:

1. How effective is iontophoresis
2. Information for patients
3. Hyperhidrosis treatments

Irena Kresic

A digital marketing specialist who aims to spread the word about hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by excessive sweating. And to all those who suffer from hyperhidrosis, I say – gather as much information as possible and find the treatment that works best for you.

www.hidroxa.com

The post Iontophoresis treatment for hyperhidrosis – does it really work appeared first on The Hyperhidrosis Blog.

Autumn and winter are an exciting season for members of hyperhidrosis society. Many possibilities open during this period, especially in November, hyperhidrosis awareness month. 

Big steps forward in the fight against excessive sweating are happening daily. You can check all the latest news on the hyperhidrosis society website.

One of our main missions at Hidroxa is to make our customers feel safe and comfortable. 

Many people wonder if iontophoresis treatments are going to work for them. For those who can not access the clinic to test the machine, we offer a 50-day money-back guarantee. Besides, our customer support is always available for guidance, tips, and advice on best practices. 

We are planning to expand our collaboration with more clinics in Scandinavia to start with. We aim for future cooperation with clinics across Europe and worldwide as well. Hopefully, more patients will be able to try out the iontophoresis device before deciding whether they want to purchase it. Now, back to the trips and tricks for dealing with sweat in the winter.

Tips for dealing with excessive sweating in the winter

1. Choose your clothing wisely
2. Avoid foods that contribute to body odor
3. Consider changes to your medical treatments
4. Talk to your doctor

Choose your clothing wisely

Your outfit choices can be both your friend and enemy when it comes to handling the sweat in colder times. Particularly when you’re switching a lot between indoors and outdoors. 

Some colors and materials could help your skin breathe and hide that you’re sweating.

Others may play against your favor, even if you’re not sweating that much.

Some people with severe hyperhidrosis buy several shirts of the same kind to be able to switch their clothing multiple times during one day without anyone noticing.

Which colors to wear if you’re sweating excessively?

White is one of the few light colors that won’t show your sweat stains as much. However, if the color of the clothing is too bright like yellow, light blue and green, pink, etc. it will become harder to hide the stains. 

If your stains aren’t transparent, bright colors like blue, white, green, pink, red, olive, and especially gray are the worst choice.

When it comes to dark colors black, navy, dark brown are one of the best options to hide sweat.

Consider wearing patterns

Patterns like camouflage, floral, checkered, paisley, plaid, and snake print can help you to become a master of disguise. They might not help you sweat less, but they can help you feel less nervous because they won’t show the fact that you’re sweating.

Fabrics that are good choice if you’re sweating

Moisture wicking fabrics: 

• Merino Wool
• Bamboo
• Wool

These fabrics “pull sweat away from your body” and are also natural fabrics. They won’t produce as much as unpleasant smells like the artificial ones if you’re suffering from Bromhidrosis as well.

Breathable fabrics: 

• Cotton 
• Linen
• Rayon

These fabrics are great if you want to let your skin “breathe”. Any possible body odor (bugging people that suffer from both hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis) will evaporate much faster.

Most of people with hyperhidrosis usually don’t have a problem with odor. In some cases, it can be a possible issue if sweat isn’t coming from the feet. 

Foul smelling sweat is a condition named Bromhidrosis.

Fabrics that contribute to smell and odor production and might be good to avoid: 

• Polypropylene
• Nylon
• Polyester

Wear layers

The weather is the most unpredictable in this season. Wearing layers is an effective strategy to stay comfortable in the winter. Frequent changes in temperature are harder to handle if you haven’t chosen your layers wisely. Here are the tips for clothing layers to help in the fight against sweating above normal:

• Wear an undershirt and undergarments under your outfit. They can often absorb a certain amount of sweat, so the amount of sweat on the surface will lessen.
• Consider bringing a jacket with you. When the sweat starts to act crazy, and you’re in a hurry for a meeting or an important appointment, you can put the jacket on to feel more comfortable. Bonus tip: If your jacket has pockets, you can put a handkerchief in it to wipe the sweat out of your face or palms.

Avoid drinks that contribute to your body sweating

Alcohol consumption affects the central nervous system, widens blood vessels, which causes the body temperature to increase. To fight off the temperature, our bodies produce more sweat to cool us off. 

According to alcohol.org, the mechanism isn’t fully known yet.

With diminished levels of this enzyme, it’s thought that certain toxic metabolic by-products build up in the body and can cause flushing in the skin.

Some people experience less sweating when they are consuming alcoholic beverages. This happens because they feel relaxed and their sympathetic nervous system is calm.

Consider changes to your hyperhidrosis treatments

Different temperatures can produce changes in the way you sweat. Sometimes, colder times like autumn are a time of relief for some people, because their sweating decreases. For others, it can be the exact opposite. There can be no sign of any changes in the sweating level. 

Being careful with what you’re wearing and eating will probably not be enough to deal successfully with hyperhidrosis. 

As the first step of your anti-sweat mission, you can try using prescribed antiperspirants or over-the-counter antiperspirants. Other types of medications could help to have more control over your sweating. 

Usually, at this step, most people find themselves disappointed seeing minimal or no results at all. These medications often aren’t enough to treat this medical condition.

If you’re already using medications, and you see that this effect is wearing off, you should consider researching other options. If you have the opportunity to do so in your area, look for a doctor with experience in hyperhidrosis treatment to advise you about treatment options.

Talk to your doctor about excessive sweating

Using medications properly is the most important thing when it comes to fighting hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating. If you’re considering adding extra medications to your treatment plan or intensifying the use of the existing ones, you should talk to a doctor specialized in this area. Sometimes, depending on the type of the treatment or medication, you can experience no changes at all. Some medication can cause hyperhidrosis as a side effect. 

However, if a person is dealing with other serious conditions, it is necessary for them to continue taking them. In these situations, it’s essential to learn how to manage the increased level of sweat. Hyperhidrosis that is a result of taking medications is known as secondary hyperhidrosis.

The doctor can explain to you the possible benefits and disadvantages of using the medication in general. Also, they can educate you about the particular effect in the time of the year like winter.

Conclusion

Winter symbolizes more relaxed times for most people who are suffering from excessive sweating, but the fight against it continues. It’s easier to hide the sweat stains and feel less ashamed by wearing particular colors and layers. The most important thing is to think up-front so you’re ready at every moment. 

Thinking carefully about the colors and layers while dressing is a good tactic to cover up a sweat. However, it won’t help you lessen the sweat level significantly. That’s why it is important to use medications or treatments that can help you take control of your excessive sweating. 

Before considering any adjustments to your treatment plan, reach out to your doctor. They can present you with information on certain medications and treatment options.

Angela Cvitkovic

Customer service and digital marketing specialist motivated to spread awareness about hyperhidrosis and help patients in finding the right treatment.

www.hidroxa.com

The post How to Deal with Excessive Sweating in the Winter appeared first on The Hyperhidrosis Blog.

The most famous is “No-Shave November” that has a goal of growing awareness about cancer. 

The word about excessive sweating disperses the most at this time of the year. 

As a family business with people close to us affected by hyperhidrosis, we work hard to spread the word about the seriousness of excessive sweating. 

Every step forward to educating as many people as possible about this condition could provide a chance for someone to find the right treatment.

Therefore, hyperhidrosis awareness month is the biggest opportunity to spread the word about this condition.

Over the years, we’ve had a chance to work with many people from Sweden and Scandinavia

With time we’ve broadened our mission to spread hyperhidrosis awareness worldwide. Patients deserve to get the chance to get the right diagnosis and information.

Unfortunately, not every treatment is suitable for everyone. 

However, every person that has damaged life quality because of excessive sweating deserves information about treatment options.

Since there is still a lot of research about this condition going on, we’ve listed 3 little-known facts about excessive sweating.

1. The silent handicap

Did you know that diagnosis of excessive sweating is also famous as “the silent handicap”? 

Imagine not being able to choose the clothing you like, greet people close to you, choose a career you prefer. Imagine feeling stressed out most of the time. 

Moreover, it is just a tiny layer of what sweating beyond regular does to those affected by this condition. 

If you’re not familiar with this diagnosis, the name “silent handicap” might not be obvious. People who have hyperhidrosis, don’t usually talk about it.

It can be seriously upsetting to struggle daily with basic tasks. It’s even harder to feel scared or ashamed, staying silent about it, and dealing with it on your own.

2. The exact reason for primary hyperhidrosis is unknown

This fact might be not strange to you if you’re familiar with excessive sweating.

However, if you’ve just started your research, it might be hard to believe it. It’s nerve-wracking that a medical condition that affects so many people is still so unfamiliar.

People affected by this type of excessive sweating have heard multiple times words like:

“You’re stressed. You have it because of that.”

“It’s just puberty, it’ll pass.”

“You’re overweight, that’s why you have it.”

Sometimes, the reasons above can increase sweating but they are not the cause of primary hyperhidrosis. 

These people have often tried to lose weight and have done everything to not feel stressed. They do everything to improve their health, but their sweat problems remained.

Several medical papers suggest that a genetic origin might be, partly, a reason for transmission of sweat level above regular. However, more research is crucial to the mission to explore this area.

3. More than 250 million people in the world suffer from hyperhidrosis

Information about the “silent handicap” isn’t familiar enough amongst health-care systems. The number of people suffering from extreme sweating and not getting help is surprisingly high. 

This number is ten times the population of Australia.

Sadly, a big amount of people aren’t aware that there is help to get. 

Some of them aren’t even aware that their state of sweating too much is a medical condition. 

Others know that a high level of sweat isn’t normal. However, they don’t know that there are clinics that they can reach out to and get a diagnosis and treatment.

Times in a year like hyperhidrosis awareness month, are a grand opportunity to spread knowledge about this shameful disease. Unfortunately, it can seriously damage the life quality of people.

What can you do to raise hyperhidrosis awareness?

If you are affected by hyperhidrosis, you can join the Hyperhidrosis Patient Association in your country/region. 

More members strengthen the possibility of pushing the issue of hyperhidrosis patients’ situations where you live. 

If you feel comfortable speaking about your suffering and problems with hyperhidrosis with your surroundings, it can help you normalize the condition and make others with hyperhidrosis open up.

If you have a person close to you that has hyperhidrosis, it’s important to communicate with your loved ones about their condition.

It’s critical not to accuse your loved ones of being responsible for their situation because they’re stressed or overweight, etc. 

We try to spread as much knowledge as we can on our blog, website, and social media.

When we started helping people with hyperhidrosis, our starting point was the Nordic area.

Emmili Yoshiguchi together with Dr. Sandra Eriksson Mirkovic, run Svettpoden (The Sweat Podcast) and covered issues connected to this condition. 

We hope that an English version of this podcast will be available soon. 

Together we can make sure that everyone who’s affected by hyperhidrosis gets the right diagnosis, information, and help.

Article medically reviewed by Sandra Eriksson Mirkovic, MD with a special interest in hyperhidrosis.

Angela Cvitkovic

Customer service and digital marketing specialist motivated to spread awareness about hyperhidrosis and help patients in finding the right treatment.

www.hidroxa.com

The post Hyperhidrosis Awareness Month: 3 Little-Known Facts about Excessive Sweating appeared first on The Hyperhidrosis Blog.